Author: Editor

Ben Ezechime, Enugu  The Senator representing Enugu North Senatorial District of Enugu State, Dr Okechukwu Ezea, on Thursday used the occasion of the June 12, 2025, “Democracy Day” celebration to highlight some of his achievements. Ezea, a Labour Party  (LP) senator, spoke at his country home, Itchi, in Igboeze South Local Government Area, of Enugu State. He said he had done a lot of legislative duties as demanded of him including moving motions on issues concerning the Enugu North senatorial district. The Senator said that on assumption of office he facilitated the ongoing rehabilitation of 9th mile-Obollo-Afor-Oturkpo road, which is…

Ben Ezechime, Enugu  The National Orientation Agency (NOA), Enugu State Directorate, says it has commenced a state-wide community sensitisation in response to recent reported case of diphtheria outbreak in the state. Mrs Clara Nwachukwu, the state Director of the agency, said that Enugu recorded a confirmed case of diphtheria in March 2025 involving a six-year-old girl. She further explained that diphtheria was a highly contagious, but vaccine-preventable disease caused by the exotoxin-producing Corynebacterium diphtheriae. She revealed that the disease spreads primarily through direct contact or via respiratory droplets in the air. The NOA state director noted that while individuals of…

By Uzor Maxim Uzoatu  The iconic publisher of Vanguard newspapers, Sam Amuka-Pemu, is 90! He remains as ever a self-effacing Nigerian patriot of uncommon class and carriage.  Call him Sad Sam or Uncle Sam who deserves a bow for he is a splendid role model to scores of journalists.  Its one of my regrets that I have never really had to work on his stable, though a book of mine had been serialized by Vanguard.  When the renowned columnist Pini Jason tragically passed away I was called up to take his place in the newspaper but I could not take…

Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki  A former governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ebonyi State, Ifeanyi Odii, has called for sober reflection on the country’s democracy. He made the call in a statement issued by his Anyi G’Emeya Movement.  The statement was signed by the spokesperson of the movement, Moses Idika. Mr Odii, who was the party’s flag bearer in the 2023 gubernatorial election, said the celebration is an opportunity to reflect on democracy as a form of governance in Nigeria.  He said: “Today we are marking 26 years of unbroken democratic governance in Nigeria. As we role out…

…Says APC using propaganda, misinformation to mask misgovernance Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia   The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, has declared that democracy is not yet operational in Nigeria, lamenting that the essential ingredients of democracy are still missing in the country. This is as he accused the ruling All Progressives Congress APC-led Federal Government of using propaganda and misinformation to mask misgovernance. Obi  in his message to mark this year’s Democracy Day, regretted that “individuals who were ineligible to hold public office before, are now in charge of the country’s affairs. The former Anambra State Governor…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Labour Party’s presidential candidate in 2023, Mr Peter Obi, has decried Nigeria’s nosediving economy, claiming that under the watch of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, Nigeria’s economy had declined by 50% in the past two years alone. Obi who made the claims in a post on his X handle, accused the All Progressives Congress APC-led Federal Government of ruining Nigeria’s economy and setting the country on a reverse mode. He wrote: “On May 29th, 2023, when this government was sworn into office,  Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) stood at $364 billion. As of  today, it has declined to…

By Azu Ishiekwene I encountered the relic of his presence long before I met Sam Amuka, known as Uncle Sam. Inside a room in the far corner of the old Kudeti PUNCH building, predominantly constructed of plywood and steel frames, there was a wooden armchair that had been a fixture in Uncle Sam’s office when he served as managing editor. When I joined PUNCH as a staff writer eight years after his departure in 1981, this piece of furniture was in my first office, sitting like a totem in a shrine, while stories about Uncle Sam floated in whispers. The…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia President Ahmed Tinubu, has commended the National Assembly over its patriotic roles in protecting Nigeria’s democracy against anti-democratic forces. Tinubu who made the commendation while addressing a joint session of the National Assembly in commemoration of this year’s Democracy Day, particularly hailed the Senator Ken Nnamani-led 5th National Assembly members for their courage in shooting down the obnoxious third term agenda promoted by former President Olusegun Obasanjo. He also acknowledged the role of the 3rd National Assembly which resisted an attempt by the military to legitimize June 12 presidential poll annulment. He said: “Mr. Chairman, the National…

Lawrence Nwimo, Awka Professor Humphrey Nwosu, former chairman of the defunct National Electoral Commission (NEC) has been posthumously awarded the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) honour. The award conferred on Nwosu by President Bola Tinubu during the 2025 celebration of the June 12 Democracy Day, was in recognition of his contributions to Nigeria’s democratic journey. During his address to a joint session of the National Assembly, Tinubu praised Nwosu for introducing a new era of electoral transparency in Nigeria. “Professor Nwosu stood for truth, transparency, and a new vision of electoral integrity in Nigeria. His memory is…

Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki  The Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), has condemned the flooding of Nigerian markets with substandard products by importers.  The Agency also warned local manufacturers to resist from  flooding the nation’s markets with substandard products  The Director General of SON, Dr Ifeanyi Okeke, stated this at a one-day Stakeholders workshop tagged, “Growing Businesses Through Standardisation,” in Abakaliki, capital of Ebonyi State.  He said that substandard items are not good for a growing economy. Represented by Mrs Talutu Athan, Director, Cooperate Affairs Department of SON, Mr Okeke noted that sandards adherence and compliance remain a major way to attain…